Pumps and Water Distribution 183

Plug Valves
Plug valves are used primarily to balance water flow, but
they are also used for shutoff. Plug valves have a low pressure
drop and good throttling characteristics. Some plug valves have
adjustable memory stops. The memory stop is set during the final
balance. It the valve is closed for any reason it can later be re-
opened to the original setting.

Calibrated Balancing Valves

Calibrated balancing valves are plug valves with pressure
taps in the valve casing at the inlet and outlet. They have also
been calibrated by the manufacturer for flow versus pressure
drop. A graduated scale or dial on the valve shows the degree that
the valve is open. Calibration data which shows flow rate in gal-
lons per minute (gpm) versus measured pressure drop is pro-
vided by the manufacturer.

Service Valves (Gate Valves)

Gate valves are service valves used for tight shutoff to ser-
vice or remove equipment. Gate valves regulate flow only to the
extent that they are either fully open or fully closed. Even though
gate valves have a low pressure drop, they cannot be used for
throttling. The internal construction of the gate valve is such that
when the plug is only partly opened, the resulting high velocity
water stream will cause erosion of the valve plug and seat. The
erosion of the plug and seat will allow water leakage when the
valve is used for tight shutoff.

Check Valves
Check valves are installed on the discharge of the pump to
prevent backflow. Check valves allow the water to flow in one
direction only. The operation of check valves is such that when
there is water pressure in the correct direction, the water forces
the gate in the valve to open. The gate will close due to gravity
(swing check valve) or spring action (spring-loaded check valve)
when the system is off or when there is water pressure in the
wrong direction.
184 HVAC Fundamentals

AUTOMATIC TEMPERATURE CONTROL VALVES

Automatic temperature control valves (ATCV) can be classi-

fied according to type of construction: Two-way valves: single
seated and double seated; and three-way valves: single-seated
mixing valves and double-seated diverting valves.

Installation
Valves must be installed with the direction of flow oppos-
ing the closing action of the valve plug. The water pressure
pushes the valve plug open. If the valve is installed the oppo-
site way the valve may chatter. Chattering occurs when the
valve plug (in an incorrectly installed valve) modulates to the
almost full closed position. The velocity of the water around the
plug becomes very high because the area through which the
water flows has been reduced. This high velocity (and resulting
high velocity pressure) overcomes the spring resistance and
forces the plug closed. When the plug seats, flow is stopped
and the velocity and velocity pressure goes to zero. At this
point, the spring force takes over and opens the plug. When the
plug is opened (to the almost closed position) the cycle is re-
peated and chattering is the result.

Two-way Valves
Two-way valves are used to regulate water flow to control
heat transfer in water coils (terminals). They close off when heat
transfer is not required and open up when heat transfer is needed.
Single-seated, two-way control valves are the type most used in
HVAC systems. Double-seated, two-way valves may be used
when there is a high differential pressure and tight shutoff is not
a requirement. The flow-through double-seated valves close one
port while opening the other port. This design creates a balanced
thrust condition which enables the valve to close off smoothly
without water hammer, despite the high differential pressure.